The home of SpongeBob Squarepants and Fairly OddParents has had a diverse history of cartoons since the 1990s. Referred to as "Nicktoons", the animated shows on Nickelodeon have mostly stood for creatively absurdist humor. In the case of a few classics like Rocko's Modern Life, this comedy can even take a slightly mature route.
However, as Redditors argue and agree on discussion threads, Nicktoons aren't always just silly comedies. Shows such as Danny Phantom, Doug, and Avatar: The Last Airbender can actually evoke emotional and serious tones for their audiences.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008)
Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of Nickelodeon's highest-rated titles and it rightfully earns a top spot due to its immersive storytelling and emotional character arcs. Set in the midst of nations driven by controllers of the "four elements", Avatar incorporated elements of philosophy, political strategy, and human values such as friendship and responsible leadership.
Avatar and its top-ranked episodes proved that Nickelodeon originals can also be quite mature. Reddit user strafefire puts Avatar's legacy in a nutshell by saying, "Avatar: The Last Airbender was their best show, and IMHO, one of the best shows to ever come on television.".
Rugrats (1991–2004)
Rugrats celebrates the imaginative phase of childhood as its lead ensemble includes a bunch of toddlers who embark on all sorts of adventures. With its adorably funny premise, Rugrats also offered life lessons for fans. The show ran for nine seasons and spawned several movies, becoming a mainstay for Nickelodeon.
When it comes to the public's praise towards Rugrats, Worthlessness98's Reddit comment holds a lot of relevance. "Rugrats will always be a 90s relic that people still fondly remember and can still be watched in reruns and should be watched by the newer generations of kids. It might be seen as babyish by its cover but completely different underneath it's layer."
The Fairly OddParents (2001–2017)
The Fairly OddParents kicks off with the disgruntled Timmy Turner as his life is turned upside down when he gets two fairy godparents who can grant him all his wishes.
Reddit user CraftPotato13 remarks, "I forgot how good this show was" evoking a sense of nostalgia for several Nickelodeon viewers. The show's popularity eventually made it one of the longest-running Nicktoons, seconded only by the legendary SpongeBob Squarepants.
The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002–2006)
In a world of foolish Nickelodeon characters, Jimmy Neutron shines as a boy genius. However, even the 11-year-old's scientific inventions can go awry as the episodes deal with the hilarious mishaps that he and his friends can get into.
Most of the Nickelodeon TV shows in the 1990s and early 2000s relied on a simple two-dimensional format. The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius was different with its CGI approach. And as Redditor Johns434 put it, Jimmy Neutron was "an instant classic for a Nickelodeon CGI show".
Danny Phantom (2004–2007)
If Nickelodeon ever had a tryst with the superhero genre, it would be Danny Phantom. The fantasy adventure had all the classic elements of a superhero story with a ghost-human hybrid for a hero. However, other than the supernatural threats he faces, Danny also goes through the average growing-up experience as a high-schooler.
In this sense, Danny Phantom also serves as a good coming-of-age option for Nickelodeon's kids programming. According to Reddit user Jozozombies115, "The overarching story and life lessons in Danny Phantom make it more than just a show." Due to its short three-season run, Danny Phantom is often regarded as one of those 2000s TV shows that need a revival.
The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991–1995)
One of the original Nicktoons, The Ren & Stimpy Show is a delightful touchstone of the 1990s. The general premise revolves around a sociopathic chihuahua and a foolish cat who find themselves in different settings together, be it in outer space or the Wild West. As was the case with other Nickelodeon shows from back in the day, the humor in Ren & Stimpy was somehow darker and more adult in nature for a children's cartoon.
On a Reddit thread discussing Nickelodeon's greatest hits, a Redditor by the name of NuclearFist aggressively proclaimed their love for it by simply commenting, "Why the f*** is not Ren and Stimpy mentioned yet? REN AND STIMPY!!!!!".
Doug (1991–1999)
While many other 90's Nickelodeon cartoons dealt with over-the-top premises and talking animals as lead characters, Doug served as a more humanized tale. The titular protagonist is an average school-going boy with a tendency to daydream fantasies that are far away from his introverted life.
The relatability of Doug's coming-of-age is what drives some to regard it as one of the best Nickelodeon cartoons. Reddit user IMD918 sums it up well, "The original Doug is super relatable...He had a tendency to overthink everything and always imagined himself in super embarrassing scenarios. Doug illustrated what anxiety is like for a kid in school."
Invader Zim (2001–2004)
A failing space invader is tasked with infiltrating planet Earth, a task which he surprisingly succeeds at while posing as a human child. This is what forms the whacky setting of the space satire Invader Zim that marked a new age of Nicktoons in the early 2000s.
While Invader Zim hasn't enjoyed the cult status of shows like Doug or SpongeBob, it still has its fair share of proponents on Reddit forums. As PrezyDante puts it in a thread on the best Nickelodeon shows, "Zim for the win".
SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–present)
A cartoon that’s synonymous with Nickelodeon is SpongeBob Squarepants, the only entry in this list that is still an ongoing show. The everyday misadventures of the over-friendly SpongeBob and the strangest characters in the underwater world of Bikini Bottom have created comedic gold for viewers of all ages.
While answering the question “What is the best Nickelodeon show of all time?”, Redditor Itsonlyachangeoftime rightly sums it up as, “No contest. The other shows have been good, but none of them enjoy the same amount of success as Spongebob has.”
Rocko's Modern Life (1993–1996)
The titular protagonist in Rocko's Modern Life is a joyous wallaby who migrates to the United States from Australia. While adjusting to his new life, he engages in surreal adventures with his anthropomorphic peers. Rocko's is quite an interesting and rather controversial Nicktoon for incorporating not only satire but even subtle adult jokes throughout its four-season run.
And this is precisely what makes it a cult favorite today. As Reddit user xandermartin 98 notes, "Rocko is and will always be the absolute god of the gods of Nickelodeon shows. ".